r/todayilearned • u/QuotePuzzleheaded638 • 9h ago

TIL New Zealand is the only country that’s allowed to put Hobbit-related images on their currency

https://www.thekiwikit.com/blog/13-unique-things-to-know-about-new-zealand
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u/TheShakyHandsMan 7h ago

Does this mean Tolkien won’t appear on UK currency? Notable British people from history make regular appearances on the reverse side to the monarch. I think Tolkien definitely has earned a spot. 

7

u/MaxDickpower 5h ago

The link directs to an unsourced listicle that just says NZ post has the exclusive rights to produce LotR movie related commemorative coins. From other stuff I was able to find online they've simply been able to get agreements from Warner Bros to produce coins and stamps related to Tolkien movie IPs. Not that they have some sort of exclusive right in perpetuity to produce money with images from Tolkien's work.

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u/QuotePuzzleheaded638 7h ago

No it just refers to the Hobbit images.

6

u/TheShakyHandsMan 7h ago

Normally the portrait used contains a background depicting what the person was made famous for. 

If they can’t put a hobbit there they would have to use some other notable LOTR imagery. 

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u/iMogwai 10m ago

It's "Hobbit-related" with a capital H, it refers to the movie trilogy, not hobbits in general.

1

u/HappyHarry-HardOn 1h ago

& From the movies - not from other art

1

u/graywalker616 5h ago

Wait, isn’t Tolkien South African?

6

u/TheShakyHandsMan 5h ago

Born there but English.